Inside SF's Mediocre Super Bowl City

Is the supposedly high-tech Super Bowl City worth the disruption in San Francisco? Hardly.

Over the past few weeks, downtown San Francisco has been closed off so a series of huts, tents, stages, and lean-tos could be quickly constructed to entertain Super Bowl fans and attendees with something called Super Bowl City.

Looking at a map of this attraction, you'd think it was a mini World's Fair harkening back to 1915 or 1939. But in reality, Super Bowl City is more like a common street fair you might find in Bakersfield, only worse. It's disappointing, especially since the hype around this event is huge. But that's probably so the locals accept the fact that important streets were blocked off for weeks.

I attended to Super Bowl XIX in 1984. Supposedly each Super Bowl since then has been more and more grandiose. I reckoned that at Super Bowl City, I could experience what I have missed. Not so.

Among other things, I found it odd that the NFL Networks and CBS Sports built fancy studios within the Super Bowl City complex that were inaccessible to the public. And I don't mean people couldn't get inside; I mean you can't get close enough to even look through a window. They were pointless and should have simply set up shop at the stadium.

If you don't believe me, check out the slideshow for a glimpse inside the hoopla.